Water motion for offset presses



Jan. 1, 1952 H. w. FAEBER ETAL 2,580,667

WATER MOTION FOR OFFSET PRESSES Filed Oct. 21, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l F'IG.|.

. INV NTORS RY W AEEER QRV/LLE .DUTE'U Lms urna BY 1952 H. w., FAEBER ETAL ,66

WATER MOTION FOR OFFSET PRESSES Filed Oct. 21, 194'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 N INVENTORS Q) H499) 14 545551? U/W/LLE 1/. DUTHU L .LYLEDUTHO W WZW Jan. 1, 1952 H. w. FAEBER ETAL 2,580,667

WATER MOTION FOR- OFFSET PRESSES Filed Oct. 21, 1947 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 u i 6D 53 6/ 57 5.4 62 43 INVENTORS' H4 HHY W E1 5195/? URVILLE MDL/ THU YLE Du THU By W #w w- ATTDHAEYS Jan. 1, 1952 H. w. FAEBER ETAL OTI N FOR OFFSET 4 INVENTORS HARRY 14 #74 EEER UR'V/LLE MEL/THO LYLE Bur/n7 BY 1952 H. w. FAEBER ETAL 2,580,667

WATER MOTION FOR OFFSET PRESSES INVENTORS' HARRY W EIEEEH UHv/LLE MDUTRU L YLE .Z7u THU Jan. 1, 1952 H. w. FAEBER ETAL 7 WATER MOTION FOR OFFSET PRESSES Eiled Oct. 21, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet a JNVENTORS' HA RHY W F74 EBER URV/LLE MEL/THU L YL E DUTH'D BY WW A FUENEYS' Patented Jan. 1, 1952 WATER MOTION FOR 0mm ranss'ns Barry W. Faeher, LarclmionflN. Y.-, and Orville Dutro-and Lyle V. Dutro, La Canada, Calif assignors to Time, Inc., New poration of New. York York, N. Y., a cor- Application October 21, 1947', Serial No. 781,120

, 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-148) The present invention relates to water (or other liquid) mechanisms for offset printingpresses and embodies, more specifically, an improved mechanism by means of which the amount'of water or other liquid furnished to the form cylinder of an offset printing press may be accurately controlled. As used herein, the term "water" will be understood to include other liquids such as ink.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that offset and similar types of print-- ing presses may require the furnishing of water to the surface which is to be inked and from which surface the inked design is removed and oifset onto the web or sheet of paper to be printed. Existing mechanisms for accomplishing this operation have certain objectionable characteristics, the chief one of which is the diiiicultyof furnishing an accurately controlled amount of water to the form cylinder. Without proper control of the amount of water applied to the form cylinder, there results an impairment of the quality of the printed product.

An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a mechanism by means of which water may be applied to the ink receiving surface of an offset or similar press in accurately controlled quantities.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water mechanism of the above character wherein accurate control of the water furnished to the form cylinder of an oilset press is accomplished not only at the fountain roll, but also, in the transfer mechanism for transferring the water from the fountain roll to the distributing and applicator rolls.

Further objects of the present invention will be apparent as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. wherein Figure l is a plan view of a portion of an offset or similar printing press showing water supplying mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial view in end elevation, looking from the left in Figure 1, portions of the mechanism being broken away and in section;

Figure 3 is a plan view in section, taken on line 3-4 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the left-hand end of the mechanism of Figure 7;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the right-hand end of the mechanism of Figure' 1;

Figure 5 is a. view in transverse section, taken on line 5-4 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

. Figure 6 is a detail view in section, taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the supporting structure of the water transfer mechanism;

Figure 7 is a view in partial section, taken on line 1-1 .of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the mechanism'for controlling theoperation of the water transfermechanism; v

Figure 815 a detail view in section, taken on the broken'line 8-! of Figure 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

,Flgure 9 is a view in section, taken on line 99 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the additional control mechanism for the water transfer device.

Referring to the above drawings, and particularly to Figure l, the side frame members of a printing press are illustrated at l0 and l I. These frame members are provided, respectively, with bearings l2 and I3 in which the shaft ll of a form cylinder I5 is journaled. The form cylinder is provided in a suitable fashion with a printing surface comprising ink receiving areas and areas that are not to. be inked. As is well understood in this art. the printing operation requires that the form cylinder l5 must have applied thereto water which will be accepted by the areas that are not to receive ink and rejected by the ink receiving areas.

In,order to accomplish the moistening of the surface of the plate cylinder l5, two applicator rolls l6 and ii (Figure 5) are provided, the applicator rolls being supplied with water from a vibrator roll it.

sions 28 and 29 that are pivoted to the respective; bushings 20 and 23. Appropriate fluid pressure within the cylinders 24 and 25 thus serves to move the applicator rolls l6 and H into and out of operating engagement with the form cylinder 15.

In this fashion, when the printing operation is I interrupted, suitable control mechanism introduces fluid into the cylinders 24 and 25 to retract the applicator rolls I3 and H from engagement with the form cylinder I and thus prevents overloading of the form cylinder with water.

The vibrator roller I3 is provided with a shaft 33 that is journaled in the bearing sleeves 2|, the left-hand end of shaft 33, as viewed in Figure 1, extending beyond the side frame member l3, and being provided with a drive gear 3| which is driven from suitable gearing on the drive side of the press, the details of which form no part of the present invention.

The right-hand extremity of shaft 33 extends beyond the press frame II and is provided with a reciprocating mechanism 33 which is adapted to reciprocate the vibrator roller l3 continuously during rotation thereof. The details of this reciprocating mechanism form no part of this invention and need not be described herein.

The mechanism to supply water to the vibrator roll l3 comprises a fountain, fountain roll, and transfer apparatus illustrated in detail in Figure 5 and also shown in Figures 1. 3, and 4.

Referring to Figure 5, the fountain roll is shown at 33, this roll being provided with a shaft 34 (Figures 3 and 4) which is journaled in the side frames I3 and II by bearings 35 and 33, respectively. The shaft 34 is provided with a gear 31 and the surface of the roll is moistened by means of a water pipe 33 having a slot or plurality of apertures 33 which discharge water onto a wier blade 43 that terminates closely adjacent the roll 33. Water thus is distributed over the length of the roll 33 and is carried by the roll in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5. In order that the film of water on the roll 33 may be evenly distributed, a doctor blade 4| is provided, the doctor blade being mounted upon the supporting frame 43 and its position with respect to the surface of the fountain roll 33 controlled by means of a plurality of pressure blades 43, each of which is controlled by a pressure arm 44, pivoted upon a shaft 45. The shaft 45 is mounted upon a plate 43 and a plurality of adjustment screws 41 are provided for the respective arms 44, as illustrated in Figure 5. In accordance with the present invention, the surface of the roll 33 is formed with a spiral groove 43 in order that the quantity of water carried over by the fountain roll 33 may be effectively controlled by the doctor blade 4|.

The water is transferred from the fountain roll 33 to the vibrator roll |3 by means of a transfer mechanism illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This mechanism comprises a shaft 43 joumaled in side frame members l3 and II by bearings 53 and 5|. Shaft 43 extends beyond the side frame member I3 and is provided with an elliptical driving gear 53. Upon the shaft 43 a plurality of spiders 53 is secured, these spiders carrying rock shafts 54 and 55 at the extremities thereof. Each rock shaft is provided with a plurality of supporting arms 53 which are keyed thereto and which are normally urged outwardly by means of springs 51. Each of the arms 53 is formed with a dove-tailed slot 53 in which the transverse track 53 is received. Slidably mounted in the track 531s a plurality of sponge segments 33, the segments being carried in clips 3| that are adapted to be slidably mounted in the tracks 53. The sponge and clip segments 33 and 3| are thus slid into the tracks and positioned therein in contiguous continuity, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. At the right-hand extremities of each of the shafts 34 and 33 there is mounted an operating arm 33 (Figure 3). the extremities of the arms 33 being provided with cam rollers 33 adapted to engage a dwell cam 34 (Figure 3). The dwell cam is Journaled upon a sleeve 35 and is provided with peripheral teeth 33 that are engaged by a worm 31 formed upon a control shaft 33. Controlshaft 33 is journaled in a. bracket 33 carried upon the side frame member II and is provided with an operating knob 13 in order that the position of the cam 34 may be adjusted. Cam 34 thus controls the period of time during which the sponges 33 engage the fountain r011 33 in their rotation about the shaft 43.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 7, the operation of the water transfer mechanism is also controlled by an internal cam track 1| having oppositely spaced earns 12 and 13 against which cam rollers 14 engage, the cam rollers being journaled upon the extremities of arms 15 secured to the left-hand ends of rock shafts 54 and 53, as viewed in Figure 3. The earns 12 and 13 have the same contour as the dwell control cam 34 and are provided in order to prevent undue crushing of the sponge members 33. The cam elements 1|, 13, and 13 are mounted upon a sleeve 13 carried upon the side frame member I3 concentric with the shaft 43, as illustrated in Figure 3.

In order that the sponge segments may be retracted from their operative position to contact the fountain roll 33 and the vibrator roll l3, a grasshopper cam mechanism is provided comprising arms 1'1 journaled upon the sleeve supporting element 13 at 13. The lower ends of the arms 11 are pivotally connected to links 13 which are pivotally connected to a piston rod 33 received within a cylinder 3| (Figure 7). Fluid within cylinder 3| may be supplied in suitable fashion to move the piston rod 33 downwardly as viewed in Figure '7 and thus bring the arms 11 together to engage the cam rollers 14. This action moves the cam rollers 14 toward the axis of shaft 43 and thus moves the sponge segments correspondingly to prevent their contact with the fountain roll 33 and vibrator roll |3.

The plate cylinder, vibrator roll, transfer mechanism and fountain roll are actuated by drive mechanism, as illustrated in Figure 2. A power supply shaft 32 carried by the press frame and suitably driven is provided with a drive gear 33 which engages an intermediate drive gear 34 engaging a gear carried by the plate cylinder shaft. Intermediate gear 34 also engages gear 3| on the vibrator roll shaft 33 to rotate the same during operation of the press. The shaft 32 is also provided with a bevel drive gear 33 which drives a mating bevel gear 31 secured to a drive shaft 33 which is suitably journaled upon the side frame member |3. Drive shaft 33 is formed with a worm 33 (Figures 2 and 3) that engages a worm wheel 33 secured to a lay shaft 3|. The lay shaft 3| is provided with a drive gear 32 that engages the drive gear 31 on the fountain roll shaft 34. The lay shaft 3| is also provided with an elliptical gear 33 that engages the elliptical gear 52 on the shaft 43, as previously described. In this fashion, the power supply shaft 32 serves to drive the plate cylinder 53, vibrator roll |3, transfer mechanism on shaft 43, and the fountain roll 33.

In the operation of the mechanism above described, water furnished to the fountain roll .33 is properly metered and transferred from the fountain roll by the sponge segments 33 assess? of the transfer mechanism. As previously noted, the operation of the sponge sections is accurately controlled by the cam mechanism above described, and thus the water taken by them from the fountain roll 33 is transferred to the vibrator roll l8 and, from the vibrator roll i8, through the applicator rolls [6 aand I! to the plate cylinder l5. The contour of the fountain roll 33, together with the mechanism for controlling the doctor 4|, provides an effective means for controlling the quantity and distribution of the water on the surface of the roll 33. The transfer mechanism, comprising the sponge segment 60 and operating mechanism therefor, further provides effective means for controlling the transfer of the water to the distributing system, the transfer mechanism being of such character as to greatly facilitate the insertion and renewal of the sponge segments without disturbing the other elements of the press mechanism. In this fashion, the control of the moisture supplied to the plate cylinder is effectively accomplished. The dwell control cam, as well as the grasshopper and internal cam structure,

provide an effective means for not only controlling the water transfer mechanism during normal operation of the press, but also enable that mechanism to be rendered ineffective during periods when the press is not printing. Moreover, as will be readily understood from the foregoing description, the mechanism for actuating the doctor 4| is such that the wiping edge of the doctor may be forced down into the spiral convolutions 48 to any desired extent, thus furnishing any desired quantity of water at any transverse point on the fountain roll 33.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the apperded claims.

We claim:

1. Means for transferring liquid between a fountain roller and a distributor roller parallel thereto which comprises a rotatable shaft between and parallel to said fountain roller and distributor roller, a spider on said shaft, a plurality of liquid transfer means on said spider for alternate contact with the peripheries of the fountain roller and the distributor roller, and means to alternately accelerate and decelerate the speed of rotation of the shaft to vary the speed with which the transfer means revolve about the axis of said shaft.

2. Means for transferring liquid between a fountain roller and a distributor roller parallel thereto which comprises a rotatable shaft between and parallel to said fountain roller and distributor roller, a spider on said shaft, a pluabout the rotatable shaft and for radial oscilla-.

tion on the spider, and non-metallic, yielding liquid-receptive transfer means mounted eccentrically on said rock shafts for alternate contact with the peripheries of the fmmtain roller and rality of rock shafts mounted for revolution about the rotatable shaft and for radial oscillation on the spider, non-metallic, yielding liquidreceptive transfer means mounted eccentrically on said rock shafts for alternate contact with the peripheries of the fountain roller and distributor roller, and means to'control the radial, positions of the rock shafts on the spider.

5. Means for transferring liquid between a fountain roller and a distributor roller parallel thereto which comprises a rotatable shaft between and parallel to said fountain roller and distributor roller, a spider on said shaft, 9. plurality of rock shafts mounted for revolution about the rotatable shaft and for radial oscillation on the spider, non-metallic, yielding liquidreceptive transfer means mounted eccentrically on said rock shafts for alternate contact with the peripheries of the fountain roller and distributor roller, a plurality of spring clips adapted to receive and hold the respective transfer means releasably,. and means to secure a plurality of the clips to each of the rock shafts.

6. Means for transferring liquid between a fountain roller and a distributor roller parallel thereto which comprises a rotatable shaft between and parallel to said fountain roller and distributor roller, a spider on said shaft, a plurality of rock shafts mounted for revolution about the rotatable shaft and for radial oscillation on the spider, non-metallic, yielding liquidreceptive transfer means mounted eccentrically on said rock shafts for alternate contact with the peripheries of the fountain roller and distributor roller, a plurality of spring clips adapted to receive and hold the respective transfer means releasably, means to secure a plurality of the clips to each of the rock shafts, and means to control the radial positions of the rock shafts on the spider.

HARRY W. FAEBER. ORVILLE DU'TRO. LYLE V. DUTRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 441,790 Cox Dec. 2, 1890 472,666 Cottrell Apr. 12, 1892 1,185,669 Hoe June 6, 1916 1,262,709 Smith-1---; Apr. 16, 1918 1,514,991 Rees Nov. 11. 1924 1,558,686 Lipton et 1. Oct. 27, 1925 1,683,243 Blaine Sept. 4, 1928 1,840,071 Werner et al. Jan. 5, 1932 1,995,701 Buttner Mar. 26, 1935 2,154,544 Taylor Apr. 18, 1939 2,162,248 Delaplane June 13, 1939 2,165,235 Curtis July 11, 1939' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 89,668 Norway-nun"... Sept: 3, 1048* 

